THERE has been much grief recently about the actions of some miscreant who took a chainsaw to the Sycamore Gap tree by Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park, a well known totem on the landscape. Several mourners have even laid flowers at the spot, which somehow seems horticulturally appropriate.

But what about the statuesque elm tree that once stood on the approaches to Evesham like a lighthouse? For more than 400 years the tree acted as a beacon for visitors to the town, especially cattle drovers on their way in and out on market days.

By that you can tell how long ago we are talking, for it’s a few years since anyone drove a herd of anything through Evesham.

The elm stood at the top of the hill in what is now known as Elm Road and was certainly there in 1775 for the spot was mentioned in the Enclosure Award for Bengeworth. Although the location was then referred to as “two elms”, one having disappeared at some point.

The old lone tree remained defiant until 1953, when it was removed “as a safety measure for traffic”, although its memory lingers on with numerous “elm” references in the vicinity, notably Elmside, a 1980s housing development.

We are indebted to Stan Brotherton for this pearl of historical information in his latest book A-Z of Evesham. Born and bred in the town, Stan has long been involved in local history projects as well as being the author of numerous works.

His A-Z is an alphabetical adventure through Evesham’s past, accompanied by a series of old and modern photos, which show, in some instances, everything changes but nothing changes. Especially when it comes to flooding.

For example you get a sepia print of the flooding of Waterside in 1900 followed a few pages later by the remarkable scenes at Workman Bridge in 2007, when River Avon torrents carried caravans from their riverside parks and smashed them against the bridge.

But the Avon also provides happier days with skating on the frozen waters near Glover’s Island in 1890. Winter certain got chilly back then.

There are also memories of the old Evesham cattle market at Smithfield, now redeveloped as housing, with one of the areas named Rightons Court after the market auctioneers.

Stan said that compiling the A-Z was actually quite a complex task. “I found there was far too much material with the exception of X and Z,” he added, “and if there’s a lesson to be learned here then it surely must be this: the past is messy, history is extensive and any one history book can only ever hope to highlight selected items.” But it’s good to see the old elm tree back again.

*A-Z of Evesham by Stan Brotherton is published by Amberley at £15.99.